Safety means for mine cages



y E. BJERKE- I SAFETY MEANS FOR MINE CAGES Filed March 1, 1944 2Sheets-Sh eet l v July 1 E. BJERKE, 2,403,333

' SAFETY MEANS FOR MINE CAGES Filled March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWWPatented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY MEANS FOR MINECAGES Edwin Bjerke, Wallace, Idaho Application March 1, 1944, Serial No.524,621

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devicesand more particularly to a safety means for mine cages in which workmenand materials are customarily carried.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide safety meansfor mine cages which will act to stop the cage from falling in the eventthe usual sustaining cable breaks.

Another important object of the invention is to provide safety means ofthe character stated which will be quick-acting and fool-proof inoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view showing aportion of a mine cage with the safety means installed.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevationalview showing one side wall ofthe cage and the safety means installed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the spring meansfor the present invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that the mine shaft in which the cage generally referred toby numeral 5 operates is constructed of timbers, certain of which arehorizontally disposed as at 5 and vertically extending along thesehorizontal timbers 6 are runners serving as guide tracks 1, these tracksbeing at opposite sides of the shaft.

The frame of the cage, which is shown in the drawings, consists of sidewalls 8, 8 and a bottom 9, and on the outer side of each side wall 8 isa channeled guide 10 which rides the corresponding track I, thusrequiring the cage to move in a true vertical direction.

Adjacent each of the guides ID, the corresponding side wall 8 has a slotl I through which a portion of a rotatable plate l2 projects. This plateis substantially circular, the same having a tangentially disposedformation l3 terminating at one end in a timber engageable tooth l 4 andat its opposite end in an abutting shoulder IS. A second abuttingshoulder I6 is provided on the plate l2 which is adapted to strike theinside of the cage when the tooth I4 is in operated position, whilesimultaneously the shoulder I5 abuts the outside of the correspondingside wall 8. It can be seen that the plate 12 is fulcrumed on a bolt I!havin one end supported in a bracket Ila suitably fixed, as at I"), tothe adjacentsides of wall 8 and slotted as at llc for extension of theplate l2 therethrough.

The other end of the bolt H is fixed in one end of a top structure I8for the cage and between which and said bracket Ila, the plate l2fulcrums, the structure l8 having a cross pin l9 disposed through a slot20 in a vertically slidable bar 2 I, which is slidable through the topstructure 18. The lower end of the slide bar 2| has a cross member 22provided with upstanding plungers 23, 23 at the opposite'ends thereof,these plungers extending into the lower convolutions of coiledcompression springs 24 which nestle in sockets 2-5 constructed in thetop structure l8.

The usual hauling cable, denoted by numeral 25, is attached to the upperend of the bar 2|.

At diametrically opposite corners of the plate 22 are providedupstanding lugs 26 to which bifurcated members 21 are pivotally securedas at 28. Rods 29 provided with threads are adjustably disposed into thebifurcated members 21 and are, in turn, pivotally connected as at 38 tothe corresponding rotatable plates l2.

It can now be seen, that when the load of the cage is on the cable 25,the bar 2| willbe held in elevated position and this, in turn, will holdthe plates l 2 rotated so that the teeth or dogs M will be held close tothe side Walls 8 and out of the path of the horizontal timbers 6.

However, should the cable 25 break, the springs 24 will force the plate22 downwardly and this, in turn, will result in rocking the plates l2,to the end, that the dogs M will be thrown outwardly and into the pathof the horizontal timbers l6 to the end that the stage is stopped in itsfall.

While the foregoing specification sets forth th invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from claimed as newis:

In a mine, a shaft, provided with side horizontal timbers and centralguide tracks, a cage having side walls with guides thereon running onsaid guide tracks, a hauling line for the cage, a vertically slidablebar on the cage to which the line is attached, substantially circularplates on the cage adapted to be operated from normal position forengaging the side timbers when the hauling line breaks, said platesbeing rockably mounted on said side walls and staggered relativelylaterally to clear said guide tracks, operating connections between saidplates and the bar, and spring means for forcing the bar to plateoperating position upon breaking of said line, said plates beingprovided with tangential teeth for hooking over said side timbers, saidplates having diametrically opposite shoulders engaging opposite sidesof said walls when said teeth are in position to engage said sidetimbers.

EDWIN BJERKE.

